NHTSA Complaint #10284537 — 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600

2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 OIL COOLER LEAKING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. THE CAR IS DRIVEN NORMALLY TO WORK AND VACATION TRIPS. NOTHING SPECIAL LEADING UP TO THE OCCURRENCE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT. I AM AFRAID THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF OIL THAT LEAKS AND HOW IT RUNS DOWN THE BELL HOUSING AND HITS THE EXHAUST, THAT A FIRE IS POSSIBLE. WITH THE WINDAGE TRAY THAT IS MOUNTED UNDER THE TRANSMISSION, IT CAUSES IT TO POOL THE OIL AND LEAKS ON THE EXHAUST WHEN IT IS DRIVEN. THE OIL COOLER IS MOUNTED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND REQUIRES THE HEADS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE OCCURS APPROX EVERY 40K-60K MILES. A SIMPLE REPLACEMENT DOES NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THERE IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT HERE THAT MBUSA IS NOT WILLING TO RESOLVE WITH THE CUSTOMER OR A CHANGE IN DESIGN FOR RESOLUTION. I HAVE CALLED MBUSA (1-800-367-6372, 4,5) AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO MB IN NW ARKANSAS AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE SAME ISSUE AND ESTIMATED A REPAIR COST OF $7800 AND 2 WEEKS. I AM AWAITING SOME ATTENTION FORM NHTSA OR MBUSA BEFORE REPAIRS. I WOULD BE WILLING FOR NHTSA TO INSPECT CAR BEFORE AND DURING THE REPAIRS TO PUSH FOR A RECALL. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS ON THE NET. PLEASE CHECK HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2001/MERCEDES+BENZ/S-600. *TR